Destruction in conjunction

Demolition teams play roller derby with old Fords instead of skates

"Pretty much anywhere," laughs Tracy Parrotte, a former Quick Silver driver whose father, Jack Parrotte, raced for the original Mean Green Machine. Parrotte helps out Leibundguth, whose dad Hal drove team demolition competitions in the 1970s, and Leibundguth's teammate, Chris McGuire, whose old man was James "Pudgy" McGuire of the original Pink Panthers demolition team.

"You spot 'em in back yards and behind gas stations," said Parrotte. "Some guys'll drive down to Texas and around the south looking for cars. We like to get 'em free if we can, or pay only $150 or $300. You don't ever want to pay more than $500 for a car. That would make no sense."

"You don't want a GM product, either," added Millette Sr. "We run dry engines without radiators, and the GMs get too hot, too quick. I stick with the big block 460s if I can, and the first thing I do is take out the dashboard. You take a good head-on hit ... and that dashboard'll come right back at you!"

Millette mentioned running Fords without radiators or coolant, or with a "dry block," as the racers say. Gas tanks also are disconnected and drained, and gas is stored in small marine tanks in the rear seat, where they're less likely take a direct hit. Other modifications include hiked-up front ends and a two-battery arrangement that gives the driver a second shot if his first power source fails.

"Setting up cars means putting in marine tanks and batteries and tuning the engines a little," said Leibundguth. "Your main worry is the engine and transmission. Are they gonna last through the race?"

Jan Gabriel says team demolition derby competitions could rival Monster Trucks in popularity if a national TV network or cable operation got behind the sport with a firm push. Team demolition derby has all the action and colorful characters of Monster Trucks and the World Wrestling Federation.

"Get ready to trash, smash and crash!" he growls. "First-timer Stranglehold moves into the finals against those oooooold stalwarts, the Locomotives. They've been around . . . for yeaaaars!!! We're talking Dennis `the Menace' Ryan, Sneaky Pete Ryan, Minor Dave [Janin] and Phil Ledder. Give 'em a Route 66 hand! They're going for an undefeated season!" (The Locomotives have a strutting major domo who waves his arms and barks orders.)

The audience takes sides.

Everyone loves an underdog, and Stranglehold seems to have most of the applause.

The green flag drops, and, as you might guess, the Locomotives make liverwurst of Stranglehold. Their winning purse is $5,000, with another $21,000 split among the other seven teams, according to finish.

Millette Sr., back in the pits, drinking a beer with the other Damage Inc. drivers and their families, smiles his wolfy smile and insists, "I usually hit what I aim at. I like rear tires--I like to rip them up!"

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Team demolition derby typically runs from May to August at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet. This year's last event is Saturday.